INHIBITORS OF DE-NOVO FATTY-ACID BIOSYNTHESIS IN HIGHER-PLANTS

The present knowledge of de novo fatty acid biosynthesis in plastids o f higher plants is reviewed with respect to its inhibition by various synthetic and natural xenobiotics. Certain enzymatic steps in the bios ynthetic sequence, the acetyl-CoA synthetase (ACS), the acetyl-CoA car boxylase (ACC), the beta-ketoacyl-ACP synthases (KAS I and III) and th e plastidic pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (pPDHC), are specifically i nhibited by different synthetic compounds (ACS by alkyl-adenylates; AC C by herbicides, pPDHC by acetylmethyl-phosphinate) or by naturally oc curring antibiotics (KAS enzymes by cerulenin and thiolactomycin). The se xenobiotics can be used in a better understanding of the regulation of de novo fatty acid biosynthesis and the enzymes involved.